Urban Action 10/22

This week's calls to action include the following events and activities. (All are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.)

Discussing black male incarceration

Rochester Alumnae and MCC will hold "What's My Fate?" a panel discussion focusing on the issues raised in Michelle Alexander's book, "The New Jim Crow," at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 28. The panelists will focus on the mass incarceration of young black men. The panelists include Rochester City Court Judge Stephen Miller; Shani Curry, Monroe County assistant district attorney; Ruth Turner, director of social work for the Rochester City School District; Karen Morris, Brighton town justice; Cynthia Elliott, vice president of the Rochester school board; and Mayor Lovely Warren. The event will be held at MCC, Building 3, rooms A and B.

Dems reach out to the next generation

The Monroe County Young Democrats will hold a "Youth in Activism Expo 2014 to Create the Next Generation of Leaders in Rochester," from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, October 27. The event will be held in the German House's Zeppa Auditorium at 315 Gregory Street. RSVP: 721-1191.

Weddington on Roe v. Wade

Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York will present Sarah Weddington as its annual luncheon featured speaker on Tuesday, October 28. Weddington is an attorney, law professor, and former Texas state legislator best known for representing Jane Roe in Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court case. The event will be held at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tickets: $60. Information: 546-2771, ext. 351.

Seminar on world religions

Nazareth College's Hickey Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue will present a seminar on "Sacred Texts and Healing in World Religions" at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 22. Panelists include Rabbi Sandra Katz; Tibetan Buddhist Frank Howard; the Rev. Lawrence Hargrave, pastor at Asbury First United Methodist Church; Dr. Ashok Shah, professor at the University of Rochester; and Etin Anwar, associate professor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. The event will be held at Otto Shults Community Center.

Activist to talk about Ferguson

RIT will host the International Socialist Organization's presentation of "Race, Class, and Rebellion: the Lessons of Ferguson," at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 23. Dhoruba Toure Shakur, an activist in the protest movement following the death of Michael Brown, is the guest speaker. The event will be held in Bldg. 6, room A205.

UN Day focuses on women

The United Nations Association of Rochester will celebrate UN Day with a conference that focuses on promoting gender equality, empowering women and girls, and improving maternal health on Friday, October 24. The keynote speaker is City Court Judge Ellen Yacknin, who has a strong background in human rights and in fighting human trafficking. The event will be held at The Strong National Museum of Play, 1 Manhattan Square, from 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration: 329-5400.